Which Chicago Bears players have the most to prove in 2022?

The Chicago Bears roster has had a makeover this offseason. New general manager Ryan Poles wasted little time putting his stamp on the organization with bold moves like trading Khalil Mack and adding 50 new players via free agency and the NFL Draft who weren’t with the team in 2021. He’s sent an unmistakable message to the locker room: competition for starting jobs and roster spots is real this season, and with no ties to players from the Ryan Pace regime, the 2022 Bears will be a meritocracy.

With that in mind, here are three Chicago Bears players with the most to prove in 2022.

Teven Jenkins (Right Tackle)

Jenkins, a second-round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, was viewed as one of the biggest steals of his draft class. He slipped to the second round because of medical concerns, and they were well-founded. Jenkins missed most of his rookie season with a back injury and was limited to just 160 snaps for the year.

When Jenkins did play, he was… OK. He wasn’t great. He certainly didn’t look like a second-round steal, and he’s entering the 2022 season forced to re-think his training regiment and body composition. Poles said he wants leaner and more athletic offensive linemen, which suggests Jenkins — who isn’t lean nor very athletic — isn’t a fit.

This season, Jenkins will have a legitimate opportunity to prove he belongs in the Bears’ long-term plans. He did have a high draft grade from experts in the industry and was profiled as a quality NFL starter. There’s no reason to fear he won’t pan out after just 160 snaps. Instead, Jenkins’ second season should be analyzed by quarters to track his development. If by midseason he’s struggling, a change would make sense. But not before then.

The best-case scenario for the Bears is for Jenkins to play well. That’s obvious. But it’s for more reasons than just having a good right tackle. It will remove the position as a need entering next offseason when Chicago should have the most salary-cap space in the league. A long-term starter on a rookie contract at right tackle will strengthen Poles’ already powerful position next winter.

Cole Kmet (Tight End)

I’ve been a critic of Kmet during his first two seasons in the league. Admittedly, some of that criticism is the result of unfair expectations. Tight ends take longer than most positions to adjust to the NFL, and Kmet, who was young for the position as a rookie, was no exception. I expected a more athletic playmaker than Kmet’s flashed during his first two seasons. Perhaps, those expectations need adjusting.

It’s unfair to expect Kmet to be the next Rob Gronkowski. Gronk is a Hall-of-Famer. He’s one of one. Instead, expectations for Kmet should be closer to Dallas Cowboys’ tight end Dalton Schultz, who finished 2021 with 78 catches for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. A stat line like that would push Kmet into the tier of tight ends just below the elites and would have his long-term outlook bright.

Despite playing with questionable veteran quarterbacks and a rookie running for his life, Kmet totaled 60 catches for 612 yards last season. His yardage total was the 12th-most among tight ends. Kmet didn’t score a touchdown in 2021, though, and for the Chicago Bears’ passing offense to take a big step forward, he has to get the ball in the paint.

Jaylon Johnson (Cornerback)

Johnson is an obvious name on this list. Coach Matt Eberflus ran Johnson with the second team during OTAs this month, which was surprising, to say the least. And while Eberflus said there was nothing to read into how players are used this time of year, Johnson’s time with the second team is still noteworthy.

The Bears invested their highest 2022 NFL Draft pick in cornerback Kyler Gordon. The coaching staff has been singing his praises over the last month, too. Johnson, meanwhile, is inching closer to an expiring contract. His rookie deal runs out at the end of 2023, and with the cornerback market exploding in recent seasons, Johnson’s early-career success has him on track for a bank-busting contract. But he has to earn Eberflus’ trust first.

Poles protected the Bears from forcing a massive contract for Johnson with the selection of Gordon. Sure, it would be great for Chicago to have two lockdown corners while only paying one — Johnson — top-of-the-market money. But before we get there, Johnson has to prove he warrants that kind of payday.

Johnson, at times, looks like an elite cornerback. His blend of size, length, and movement skills is hard to find, but his lack of ball production — just one interception in two seasons — suggests more development is needed. He’ll have a chance to take that next step in his game in 2022.